7Force Strategic Commercial Solutions Manager

Location: Dependent on applicant’s location, can be based anywhere across the 7 Forces

Reporting to: 7F Head of Strategic Commercial Solutions

This is a unique opportunity for an experienced commercial professional to join our Strategic Commercial Solutions Management team, supporting the 7 police forces across the east of England (Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Norfolk, and Suffolk). This collaboration is responsible for third party spend of approximately £250m per annum, making the 7 Force Collaboration the second largest police procurement collective after the Metropolitan Police. Commercial influence on this scale has the potential to attract significant financial benefits through market shaping and economies of scale. This also enables the 7 Forces to seek to manage suppliers more strategically on a regional basis to secure savings and wider social, economic, and environmental benefits.

You will help resolve some of the most difficult commercial hurdles in law enforcement, helping forces to benefit from more efficient and innovative offerings from the market as well as stimulating markets in areas where competition is lacking. You will also be expected to lead and/or support complex commercial negotiations with key suppliers, promoting innovation and ensuring best value is achieved, as well as addressing and enforcing sanctions for poor performance, and assisting in defending the relevant Force(s) from contractual claims.

We are looking for someone with a strong commercial acumen, a track record of supplier relationship management and proven success in negotiations and resolving contractual disputes. The nature of the role means that you will need strong interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and negotiate. You will need to demonstrate that you can engage a range of key internal stakeholders at varying levels of seniority.

You should hold a procurement/commercial qualification at level 6 (degree) or able to clearly evidence your commercial experience, technical knowledge, and expertise by having worked in a senior commercial role resolving complex issues for a private or public sector organisation. You should possess significant knowledge and understanding of current contract law and the application of new procurement legislation.

Necessary Experience

Skills and abilities:

Procurement/Commercial qualification at level 6 (degree) or clearly evidence your commercial experience, technical knowledge and expertise having worked as a commercially focused professional for a complex, public, or private sector organisation.
A track record of supplier relationship management and proven success in negotiations and resolving contractual disputes.
Significant knowledge and understanding of current contract law and the application of UK procurement legislation.
Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and negotiate at all levels.
Strong analytical skills to align procurement solutions with customer needs.
Ability to “see the big picture” and think strategically about developments in the various category markets and the opportunities that those developments will create for the 7 Forces.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to liaise successfully with staff/officers of all levels and external individuals, and to influence stakeholders within the 7 Forces and external organisations.
Strong commercial acumen.
Strong negotiating, influencing, interpersonal and communication skills are essential to the role.
Provide innovative thinking and impetus to drive through change and develop and enhance an integrated commercial and contract management function across the seven forces.
Good organisational, time management and project management skills in order to ensure delivery of results to agreed deadlines.
Ability to travel as required throughout the UK.

How to Apply

In your application we will be looking for you to demonstrate the essential and desirable criteria set out in the full job description.

Travel: Travel will be required across all seven forces.

The closing date for receipt of completed applications: 16/05/2025.

For an informal initial discussion about the role please contact Simon.Fenning@Herts.police.uk in the first instance.

The postholder for this role will be employed by 7 Forces Commercial Services, but the base location of the postholder could be within any of the seven police forces listed above (i.e. local to you) and is therefore open to candidates across all regions.

Applications from internal ‘at risk’ staff will be prioritised and receive preference in any selection processes.

The Vetting level required for this post is Management MV and Security Clearance. Candidates will be required to undertake the appropriate level security vetting checks, which will include the requirement to have lived in the UK for the past three years (RV) or five years (MV) from the date of your application.